The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Dominican Republic in a statement issued on occasion of the National Youth Day on 31 January 2017 said that there is a need for more strategic investment in Dominican youth to guarantee the future of the country.
Speaking for the UNFPA, Sonia Vásquez mentioned that the government should be recognized for having increased the number of scholarships through the Ministry of Youth, the number of student lodging, and the expansion of programs for teenagers, as well as an increase in the general investment in education. But she said these programs are insufficient. She urged the General Youth Law (Ley General de la Juventud 49-00) to be more vigorously applied and promoted. Likewise, she recommended that more funds be made available to improve the quality of education, increase opportunities for jobs and for sexual and reproductive health programs.
Vásquez mentioned that early pregnancies and premature marriages pose the greatest challenges for youths, and greatly impact high school and college drop rates and contribute to maternal and infant mortality and gender violence.
She said that 21.4% of Dominican youths fall in the category of NINI’s, meaning those that do not study or work (ni estudia, ni trabaja). Of these, 3 out of every 5 are women, according to World Bank studies.
Vásquez said the situation is more dramatic in the rural areas, where there are even less opportunities.
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MetroRD
1 February 2017
